Dear Friends in Christ –

Among Lutheran CORE’s greatest concerns have been the
following –

How can we help raise up a whole new generation of
Lutheran pastors who will be Biblical and confessional in their theology and
who will be committed to fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples for
Jesus Christ?

What can we do to reach young people for Jesus?  How can we present the Gospel of Jesus to
them in a clear, compelling, and engaging way? 
How can we help them feel and be connected to the church?

Because of these concerns, we are very grateful for
the opportunity to sponsor a week of NEXUS for high schoolers at Grand View
University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Originally funded by a substantial Lilly Endowment
Grant, NEXUS is designed to give high school students a chance to engage in the
study of the Bible and Lutheran theology, be involved in service, and discern
whether God has gifted them and is calling them to full-time Christian ministry
and/or leadership in the church.  In the
past three years, over one hundred high schoolers have gone through NEXUS.  Grand View has found that after a week of
NEXUS, students grow significantly in their understanding of Scripture,
Lutheran theology, faith practices, and the doctrine of vocation.  In addition, many college-aged mentors who
have participated in the program have gone on to seminary and/or full-time
church work. 

There is no charge for high schoolers to attend NEXUS,
and Grand View wants to keep it that way. 
The original grant from Lilly Endowment will have been spent by the end
of this coming summer, so Grand View has approached Lutheran CORE and other
ministries about sponsoring a week of NEXUS. 
The board of Lutheran CORE has long recognized that many of the Lutheran
ministries that used to engage young people with a high view of the authority
of the Bible and the challenge to consider a career in Christian ministry no
longer exist or no longer function in that way, so the board immediately
responded positively to the invitation and request.

The cost to host one week of NEXUS for twenty-four
high school students, which includes college-aged mentors, teachers,
activities, room and board, and materials, is $30,000.  Lutheran CORE has committed half of the
amount for one week – $15,000.  The funds
from Lutheran CORE will be matched by Lilly Endowment to cover a full week’s
cost of $30,000. 

Because the original grant from Lilly Endowment will
cover the costs for the two weeks of NEXUS during the summer of 2020, the funds
from Lutheran CORE will be used for a week during the summer of 2021.  However, we do not want to wait until next
year to be involved.  My plan is to
attend at least a significant part of the week of NEXUS this year that will be
sponsored by the NALC (North American Lutheran Church) – July 12-17 – to
further observe the program and to get to know, listen to, learn from, and
share with the young people who are there about such things as these –

What
are they thinking about, running into, and dealing with in their lives?

What
are the questions that they are asking and facing?

What
hopes do they have for the church and for their own lives?

What
is stirring them?

Sharing
in that interaction and experiencing a week of NEXUS will help us know how best
to put a “Lutheran CORE imprint” upon a week of NEXUS in 2021.

My
purpose for writing is to let you know about this additional ministry that we
are pursuing.  In his first letter to his
young friend Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote, “The Spirit expressly says that
in later times some will renounce the faith.” 
(1 Timothy 4: 1)  Part of our work
as Lutheran CORE is to alert people to ways in which the orthodox Christian
faith is being renounced by many – unfortunately even in the church.  We also want to be there for people and
congregations when they do become aware of this great tragedy.  In his second letter Paul wrote, “What you
have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will
be able to teach others as well.”  (2
Timothy 2: 2)  It is absolutely
imperative that the Christian faith be passed on from one generation to the
next.  We do not want to be the
generation that drops the ball.

Please consider giving a gift to Lutheran CORE – over and above your current giving – to help fund the commitment that we have made to provide $15,000 for one week of high school NEXUS.  You may donate online or use the response form that you will find below and/or you may designate NEXUS on the memo line on your check.  We are very grateful for the faithful generosity of our friends, which will enable us to help support this fine ministry, in addition to all of the other ways in which we seek to be a Voice for Biblical Truth and a Network for Confessing Lutherans.

Blessings
in Christ,

Dennis
D. Nelson

Executive
Director of Lutheran CORE

Visit
our website www.lutherancore.org

Follow
us on Twitter @LutheranCORE

Like
us on Facebook www.facebook.com/LutheranCORE

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For easy access, the Response Form also appears below:

LUTHERAN
CORE

A
Voice and Network for Confessing Lutherans

NEXUS

A week for high schoolers

of study in the Scriptures and Lutheran theology, involvement in ministry,

and discernment of call to full-time Christian service  

Please find enclosed my gift (make check payable to
“Lutheran CORE” and designate “NEXUS” on the memo line)

Please use my gift to help fund one week of NEXUS for
high school students

__________ Amount

Name ______________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________

             
____________________________________________

Phone number _______________________________________

Email address ________________________________________

Prayer request
________________________________________

                       
________________________________________

                       
________________________________________

If you prefer, you can give online by going to the Give
page on our website – https://www.lutherancore.website/give/

2 Timothy 2: 2 – “What you have heard from me through
many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as
well.”

1
Timothy 4: 12 – “Let no one think less of you because you are young; rather set
the believers an example.”

“But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or
prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose
head is shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her
hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or
her head shaved, let her cover her head” (1 Corinthians 11:5-6).

Perhaps for the first time in
two thousand years, these verses make more sense. Men, be men and women, be
women. Just that. Be whom the Lord created you to be. We live in a world that
is constantly arguing over our own identity. Be whom the Lord has made you to
be and become what the Lord is making you to be. Live into your identity as a
child of God and trust what he has created.

Lord, the world is constantly mixing things up and telling me things
that make no sense. Help me to keep simple things simple and live into the life
to which You have called me. Guide me according to Your goodness that I may now
and always walk with You in the way You have established. Let me not be
confused by this world’s sinful insanity which does nothing but destroy what
You have made.

Lord Jesus, You have come into
this world to lead those who will follow into a life that sees the light of
truth. Help me follow You that I would see through the obfuscation of this age
and know that You are preparing me for eternity. Guide me O Lord in the way of
truth that I may now and always follow You. You have the words of eternal life.
Where else can we go in this mixed up world? Amen.